Hinge for folding seats



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. M. SAUDEB. HINGE FOR FOLDING SEATS.

Patented Jan. 28, 1890.

IIVVEIVTOR:

WIN/E8858:

ATTORNEYS.

N. PEI'ERS. Plmxn-limu ra nu. Wiihinglnm DAG.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

- J. M. SAUDER.

HINGE FOR FOLDING SEATS.

No. 420,246. Patented Jan. 28, 1890.

WITNESSES.

ATTORNEYS.

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UNITED STATES JOHN M. SAUDER, OF BLOOMSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

HINGE FOR FOLDING SEATS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 420,246, dated January 28, 1890.

Application filed April 23, 1889. Serial No. 308,240. (No model.)

.being very simple and durable in construc- ,tion.

The invention consists in certain parts and details and combinations of the same, as will be fully described hereinafter, and then pointed out in the claims. 7

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of thisspecification, in which similar letters ofreference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure lis a sectional side elevation of a chair provided with the improvement. Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional plan view of the same on the line a; 00 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged face view of the-fixed member of the hinge. Fig. 4 is an enlarged front face view of the movable member of the hinge. Fig. 5 is an enlarged rear face view of the same. Fig. 6 is an enlarged face vieii of the spring. Figs. 7 and 8 are face views of the washer, and Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional plan view of a double hinge.

The chair A, to which the improved hinge B is applied, is provided with the usual standards 0, connected with each other by the backs D and carrying between them the seats E, each provided with the usual brackets F, supporting the seat G. The end of each bracket F forms the movablemember of the hinge B.

On the inner face of the fixed member 0 is formed an annular offset H, having a central pivot-aperture H and a concavity H concentric therewith.

The movable member F of the hinge B is provided on its end with an arm I, carrying a convex offset 1', fitting into the concavity H of the fixed member 0. Near the outer edge of the offset 1' is formed a lug 1 adapted F is turned.

to pass into the segmental groove H so as to slide therein when the said movable member A central aperture 1 is also formed in the offset 1 and registers with the central aperture H in the offset H. The offset I' is formed on the inside of the movable member F, and on the opposite side of the said offset is formed a circular recess 1. Into this recess 1 project a number of lugs 1 arranged opposite each other to form recesses I at the outer edge of the circular recess 1 as plainly shown in Fig. 4. A flange 1? concentrically surrounds the circular recess 1 Into the recesses 1 fit the ends J of a spring-plate J, having the curved sides J 2 formed similar to the lugs 1 but somewhat smaller, so as not to touch the said lugs-I In the middle of the spring-plate J is formed an aperture J registering with the apertures I and H before mentioned. When the springplate J is placed with its ends J in the recesses 1 then the said spring-plate is prevented from moving and turns with the movable member F when the latter is opened or closed, as will be hereinafter more fully described.

On the top of the spring-plate J rests an apertured cone K, formed on the inside of the washer K. On the outside of the washer Kis formed a hexagonal recess K and in the center of the said washer is formed an aperture K concentric with the said hexagonal recess K and the cone K. A bolt L, provided with a head L, passes through the apertures H 1 J and K and carries on its outer threaded end a nut L which fits into the hexagonal recess K of the washer-K. The head L of the said bolt L rests on the outside of the fixed member C, so that when the several parts are in place, as shown in Fig. 2,

and thenut L is screwed up to force thewasher against the spring J, then any de sired tension can be given to the latter, so as to press with more or less force against the movable member The lower edge of the movable member at its inner end is rounded, as at F, and rests on the correspondinglycurved rim or rib O on the standard O when the seat is in its fully lowered position, as shown in dotted lines, Figs. 1 and 3. When two seats E are hinged to one standard, as illustrated in Fig. 9, then an offset H is formed -on reach-side t the-said standard, and themnovable: members of the hingeare fitted onto the said ofisets, as above described, and plainly shown in Fig. 9.

When the several parts of the hinge are in place, as illustrated in 1 Fig. 2, and the oper: ator moves the seat E upward, itsupwafd movement is limited by the lug I of the movable member F coming incontactrwith one end of the segmental groove H The seat E is then in a folded position, being close to the back E. When the operator unoves thei seat,

E downward into nearly its lowermost posi; tion, the lug l strikes against the other end; of the segmental groove H thus preventing the further downward movement or the seat E until a-heavier pressure is applied to the seat that is, when a party sits in the seat *a;

further 5 downward motion of the seat takes place'as the said lng'l is forced out-of the segmentaligroove 1-1 against the tension of thespring-plate. J, which is-thusslightly compressed. The seat E comes to its fnll stop when the rounded or curved -edge =F -"ofthe bracketHF' fits ontofthei lower end of the rounded or=curved= rim 0- of the -stand-E ard' G. The -last position of the-seat *is shown in dotted lines in 'Figrl. Thus -itwill be-seen that when the operator throwsthe seat 5(1OW115 from its foldd position the-seat comes 1 tea stop, Whom the lug 1 strikes'the' upper endofthe segmental groove H A sli'ght-noise occnrs at this moment 5 'but it will not be 'heard-outsid e, :as itis confined to the interior of the hinge. The 'final movement of i the seat to its lowermost position is g-rad 'ual,-so that no=noise-occurs when the-seg mentaledge F( passes onto the rim' 0. y

-' It is understood that when the seat is turned on the hinges Bthe bolt L, the washer K, and its nut L remain stationary with the standard 0. "The spring-plateJ naturally turns with the movable member F on account of beingembedded inthe recesses Iflas-be fore described.

-Hav-ing thus described -my invention, I claim as :newdand desire to secure :by Letters Patent 1. In a hinge, the combination,with a fixed member having an annular centrally-aperitured offset provided with-a concentric concavity,a segmental groove in the face of said offset, and a stop rib or rim below said offset, of: a-movable member having a convex centrally-apertured offset entering said concavity and a lug projecting into said groove, the

\groove'sbeing of a'length'to'perm'it the lug to pass. laterallyout of it before the movable member is in its lowermost position, a bolt passing through said apertures, and a spring on the bolt, against-which the movable member bearswhen the passage or the lugfrom the groove 5 forces the movable: member 'latera lly-away from the fixed member, the movable member in its lowermost pesition'resting against the ribor rim-on thefixed-Inember,

substantially as set forth.

2. The 'combination',-wi'th the fixedmernber C,--formed-on its' inner face =with avconcave 'apertured offset H, providedin its face with as; segmental groove H ,=and-a curved'rim -or against the spring; substantially as set forth.

JOHN -M.- SAUDER.

-Witnesses:

T-HEO; G. I-Iosrnn, C. SEDGWICK. 

